Top 5 Best Appointment Booking Software Systems For 2023

What’s the difference between Appointment Booking software and Scheduling software?

Put simply, both Scheduling and Appointment Booking Software serve the same basic purpose: they help businesses keep track of their appointments. However, with such a wide variety of software and use cases, it’s important to clarify the key differences between them.  

Scheduling Software is typically used by businesses that have a large number of appointments to keep track of, such as hospitals or doctor's offices. While it's used to track customer appointments, Scheduling Software also provides advanced employee management features, allowing businesses to create and maintain a schedule for their staff.

Appointment booking software, on the other hand, is more geared towards accepting and managing customer appointments. This type of software typically has features such as online booking and reminders, which can be helpful for businesses that want to streamline their appointment management process.

What is appointment booking software?

Today, appointment booking software is a must-have for any business relying on appointments. But how does it work? As you’d expect, the software helps businesses manage appointments, bookings, and reservations.

It can automate many of the steps involved in the appointment process, from sending reminders to customers to tracking employee availability. Online appointment software is mainly used by businesses that offer services that require appointments, such as spas, hair salons, and hotels. 

While it can be a valuable tool for businesses, it’s essential you choose the right platform for your needs. There are a variety of features that appointment booking software can offer, so you need to select a platform with the features that will come in handy for your business. 

Who is Appointment Booking software for?

Appointment booking software is suitable for a wide range of businesses—massage therapists, personal trainers, hair salons, spas, massage therapists, chiropractors, and more. Put simply, if you have customers or clients making appointments to see you, using appointment booking software is a no-brainer. It frees up your time so you can focus on running your business, and enables customers to easily book an appointment whenever it’s convenient for them. 

The Top 5 Best Appointment Booking Systems For 2023 Are: 

1. Baluu
2. Booksy
3. Glofox
4. SimplyBook.me
5. Bookwhen

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‍1. Baluu

Founded: 2021
HQ: London

Our top pick is Baluu. Though a relatively new software, Baluu stands alone in the world of appointment booking software. Offering an all-in-one solution for small businesses, not only does it provide comprehensive booking software, but also a slick website builder, and a payment provider.

One of the most valuable aspects of an appointment booking software is its ease of use—this is where Baluu really shines. Its interface is incredibly easy to navigate, and all features and menu items are clearly visible on the dashboard. This makes it a great choice for small businesses that are pressed for time and don’t want a steep learning curb

Despite how deceptively simple it may seem,  Baluu isn’t lacking in features. Whether it’s creating custom events, tracking your clients’ progress, enhancing your brand, or gathering useful customer information to improve how you run your business, Baluu is an out-of-the-box solution for businesses that need to book appointments.

Furthermore, Baluu’s automated review collection feature enables users to build clients' trust. Customer intake forms have customizable sections that let you effectively attend to the needs of your customers. But that's not all!

Integration innovation - Baluu's new Booking Widget!

Already have a website and want to integrate Baluu's booking software? The new booking widget makes this process efficient and hassle free. After you've input all your relevant booking data, simply add your custom branding and you'll be able to connect the booking widget within moments. Rather than coding in an entire  page, this sleek app is incredibly easy to set up and integrate. It not only lets you manage all your booking needs in one place, but helps to support a fluid experience for your customers. Why not give it a test run by utilising Baluu's 30 day free trial?

When compared with the competition, Baluu is very affordable, with prices starting from £14 a month. It also comes with a free trial and free demo options should you want to try the software before subscribing. 

If you’re ever struggling with anything, Baluu’s customer service team is always available to help with any questions or issues you may have. As a relatively young company, Baluu is constantly updating and improving its software, meaning you'll always have access to the latest and greatest features. Considering all of the above factors, we believe Baluu is a neat, cost-effective software solution for small businesses in need of comprehensive appointment booking software.

If you need help getting started on Baluu, we wrote an article on how to set up a fully-fledged booking website.

Baluu Key Features

• No coding experience? No problem! Create a fully customised website with Baluu in a few hours.
• To provide customers with a seamless, branded booking experience, integrate Baluu's customisable booking widget into your own website.
• Organise your workforce by using variable permissions with effective staff management solutions.
• Reservations made by customers can be changed, cancelled, or controlled by them.
• Create an unlimited number of listings with different ticket types and sell goods, gift cards, and learning kits.
• Utilise social media networks to extend the reach of your marketing efforts.
• Client intake forms allow you to use custom data collection fields to acquire crucial data about your clients.
• Optimise your schedules, fill last-minute cancellations, and keep customers interested by using waitlist management
• Grow your clientele by using a broad variety of marketing methods.
• Create a variety of discounts, employ integrated marketing strategies, and gather insightful knowledge.
• You can create an unlimited number of listings with different ticket types and sell goods, gift cards, and learning kits.
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2. Booksy

Founded: 2015
HQ: Chicago

Booksy is a cloud-based appointment booking software designed specifically for beauty, health, and wellness professionals. A unique selling point of the software is that it allows you to raise your profile on the Booksy Marketplace, where prospective customers are easily able to discover your business.

Clients can book services with zero hassle through the Booksy App, thereby avoiding the need for back-and-forth phone calls during business hours.

Booksy also provides a huge variety of useful features, including calendar management, meeting scheduling, online payment, and in-suite marketing management. 

But where Booksy really shines is in its huge range of support features. This includes an email/Help Desk, Knowledge Base, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone support, and Chat. They also have extensive training resources, from videos to documentation, to Webinars. 

Booksy renders subscriptions very simple with its single subscription fee of £40.Though if you want to add employees it will cost £10 per additional staff member up to the first 14. They also offer a free trial should you want to give the software a try.
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Booksy Key Features

• Manage schedules for multiple staff members, allowing clients to choose their preferred service provider during the booking process.
• Set your working hours, breaks, and time off to ensure your availability is accurately displayed for clients.
• Create and manage a variety of services, specifying durations, prices, and other essential details for each offering.
• Gain insights into your business performance with detailed reports and analytics to help you make data-driven decisions.
• Maintain client records, track appointment history, and manage communications with an integrated client management system.
• Mobile app enables you to access and manage your appointments, clients, and settings on-the-go.
• Utilize built-in marketing features like email campaigns, promotional offers, and social media integration to attract new clients and retain existing ones.
• Implement a waitlist system for fully booked sessions, allowing clients to join a waiting list in case an earlier slot becomes available.
• Collect and showcase client reviews and ratings to build your reputation and boost your online presence.
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3. Glofox

Founded: 2014
HQ: Dublin

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As a manager or owner of a gym, you have a lot on your plate. You usually have a large number of customers, each with specific bookings that need to be effectively managed. 

Cue Glofox.

Glofox is a gym management software tailored specifically to those who operate in the fitness space. In fact, many well-known people within the fitness industry swear by the software.

So what makes Glofox so beloved?

The cloud-based software has a wide variety of useful features. It can aid in admin tasks like check-in, billing, member management, and class scheduling, along with an intuitive mobile app that allows members to easily make bookings. It also lets you easily manage gym attendance and offers a comprehensive reporting feature. This enables you to view all your metrics like failed payments, membership sales, and attendance rates.

What’s more, you can connect the portal to your social media accounts, so members can book classes straight from Facebook or Instagram. 

Another invaluable aspect of the software is its client retention tools. Not only can you send automated messages, but also create unique member profiles for each new user coming in. This enables members to keep track of their history, activities, and membership type.

Glofox pricing changes from one plan to another depending on the features you require. If you purchase the annual subscription, plans start from $110 monthly, (if you purchase the annual subscription). You’ll need input data about your businesses needs to get a specific quote (see below). Ultimately, Glofox is aimed at larger businesses and is therefore on the more expensive side compared to other options on this list.

Glofox Key Features

• Manage membership plans, billing, and payments, enabling clients to easily purchase memberships, packages, or drop-in passes.
• Organise and manage your class schedule, personal training sessions, and facility bookings through an intuitive calendar interface.
• Send automatic email and push notifications to clients and staff to reduce no-shows and keep everyone informed about appointments and classes.
• Manage schedules for multiple trainers or instructors, allowing clients to choose their preferred service provider during the booking process.
• Seamlessly integrate Glofox with popular tools like Zoom, Mailchimp, and Stripe for a cohesive and efficient management experience.
• Maintain client records, track their interactions, and access their attendance history with Glofox's built-in CRM system.
• Utilise built-in features like email campaigns, promotional offers, and social media integration to attract new clients and retain existing ones.
• Enhance your brand image with a custom-branded mobile app for your gym or fitness studio, enabling clients to easily access your services and schedule.

4. Simplybook

Founded: 2011
HQ: Cyprus

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Created back in 2011, SimplyBook has since developed into an impressive appointment booking software suitable for many different businesses. The all-rounder of this list, SimplyBook’s vast array of features and integrations make it a worthy choice no matter what your area of expertise. 

Let’s start with its interface. SimplyBook has leveraged its decade of experience to great effect, making installation, navigation, and booking as simple as its namesake. The result is an interface that’s smooth, intuitive, and easy to use; something multiple users have praised.

When it comes to its range of features SimplyBook is no slouch. You can integrate the software into your own WordPress website, as well as its booking functionality with Facebook, Google, Facebook, or Instagram. Additionally, you can group your services into categories sell membership subscriptions, group your services into categories, and capitalise on its in-built loyalty system that lets your clients earn loyalty points upon purchases.

SimplyBook also has a mobile app available for Android and OS users, making it a synch for customers to book, and for you to manage schedules on the go.

We believe SimplyBook is one of the most versatile cloud-based appointment booking platforms available. Its useful features, user-friendly design, integrations, and amazing client app have all contributed to countless positive reviews.  
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SimplyBook.Me Key Features

• Customize your booking form to collect essential client information, ensuring you have all the necessary details for each appointment.
• Manage schedules for multiple staff members or service providers, allowing clients to choose their preferred provider during the booking process.
• Create and manage a variety of services, specifying durations, prices, and other essential details for each offering.
• Organize workshops, classes, or events with ease, setting capacity limits and enabling multiple attendees to book simultaneously.
• Manage customer records, track appointment history, and manage communications with an integrated client management system.
• Personalise the look of your booking site and integrate with popular tools like Google Calendar, Zoom, and Mailchimp for a seamless experience.
• You can offer deals, discounts, and/or gift cards to attract new clients and promote repeat bookings.
• Access valuable data on booking performance and business metrics to make informed decisions and improve your services.

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5. Bookwhen

Founded: 2013
HQ: Oxford, UK

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Much like SImplyBook, Bookwhen is another great all-rounder suitable for multiple different businesses. Whether you need to take bookings for classes, courses, events, or activities, or even if you are a franchiser, Bookwhen can massively help to grease the cogs of your business operation. 

It provides a truly staggering amount of features, including customisable booking pages and forms, recurring schedules, multiple ticket types, and much more. They have also introduced memberships (currently in the Beta stage) allowing customers to sign up for unique membership subscriptions.

Not only can you embed Bookwhen into any website, but you can even integrate with YouTube and Vimeo to tap into different audiences.  Furthermore, you can implement multiple admins and toles, inviting colleagues to join your account and restricting access levels for each booking page. 

What’s more, Bookwhen is a zero-carbon business which makes it attractive software for the eco-conscious business owner.

From both the user and client end, the site is set up and easy to use. Where Bookwhen also shines is its customer service, something that multiple users have said is excellent

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Bookwhen Key Features

• Manage schedules for your staff members or service providers, allowing customers to choose their preferred provider during the booking process.
• Create and manage a variety of services, specifying durations, prices, and other key info for each offering.
• Organise workshops, classes, or events with ease, setting capacity limits and allowing multiple attendees to book simultaneously.
• Personalise your email communications by creating custom email templates for booking confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups, enhancing your brand identity and customer experience.
• Tailor your booking form to collect essential client information, ensuring you have all the necessary details for each appointment, class, or event.
• The waiting list system for fully booked sessions allows customers to join a waiting list in the event a slot becomes available.
• Embed the Bookwhen booking widget directly into your website, providing a seamless booking experience for clients without them needing to leave your site.
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Conclusion

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It can be tricky finding the right appointment booking software for your business, partly because there are so many great options available. Do you go for an all-rounder which comes with loads of features and upgrades? Or do you opt for a smaller, more streamlined software that can give you access to business-specific benefits? 

Only you can know, through research and trial and error, which software is suited to your needs. We’ve given you a cursory idea of which ones we believe are the best available, but, ultimately it's down to your careful investigation. Good luck!

*All pricing outlined in this article was accurate to the best of our knowledge and soured from the aforementioned website's pricing page at the time of writing (22/03/2023).

Need more advice on your booking setup? Read some of our related guides below: 
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